The Chicago Blackhawks should have little issue extending their longest winning streak in franchise history Friday when they take on the league's worst in the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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The Blackhawks (17-0-3) remained undefeated in regulation and stretched their NHL record season-opening points streak to 20 with a 3-0 win at St. Louis on Thursday. The Blackhawks have earned at least one point in 26 consecutive games overall, the third-longest point streak in league history.
"It's kind of cool to be mentioned in history," goalie Ray Emery said. "But we've just got to continue to play well."
They appear poised to keep their run going against the struggling Blue Jackets (5-12-3) with nine consecutive wins in the series by a 35-18 margin. Those victories, however, haven't come as easy lately with both wins this season by one goal.
Chicago, though, is a league-best 10-0-3 in one-goal games, thanks in large part to stellar goaltending from Emery and Corey Crawford.
Emery figures to start this game after Crawford had to be removed following the first period on Thursday with an upper-body injury. Crawford, the league leader with a 1.46 goals-against average, was making his second start since returning from an upper-body injury on Sunday.
Coach Joel Quenneville said Crawford is day to day, and it wasn't the same injury that previously sidelined the goalie.
Emery finished with 15 saves to preserve the shutout against the Blues. He's also won each of his eight starts, and has a 1.76 GAA in five home games.
As good as they've been playing defensively, the Blackhawks shouldn't have much trouble containing a Columbus team that has scored only 15 goals and converted 3 of 37 power-play chances in 10 road games.
The Blue Jackets rallied from four one-goal deficits and salvaged a point with a 5-4 overtime loss to Dallas on Tuesday. It was the third straight loss and sixth in seven games for Columbus, which has a league-low 13 points.
